South Bend Tribune
Board OKS new $20/hour for security staff
Full-time security professionals at South Bend schools will receive a new minimum hourly wage of $20 per hour under a newly approved agreement between the district and Teamsters Local 264. This comes after the SBCSC board voted to recognize full-time...
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‘We’re really excited to see all of the teams’
OSCEOLA – The wheels are in motion as Granger Exploration and Robotics Studio (GEARS) prepares to host the second annual FIRST Tech Challenge Michiana Premier Event — the largest premier robotics event in North America — June 18-21 at Century Center in...
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‘Demonstration of unity’
South Bend feels different than it did when 80-year-old Marian Cane was raising her six children. “We need peace,” she said. “We need peace in our hearts; we need peace in our souls; we need peace in our minds and we need peace here in South...
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BLM pitches housing fund, testing in Lasalle Park
SOUTH BEND — South Bend Common Council members, Lasalle Park neighborhood residents and members of the South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission sat side by side at the St. Joseph County Public Library downtown for two hours discussing a recently...
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WINDS OF CHANGE
The United States is in a bizarre situation in 2026: It’s facing a looming energy shortage, yet the Trump administration is making deals to pay offshore wind developers nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to walk away from energy projects. These...
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CAPPING OFF THEIR CAREERS
Commencement season has ended for another spring. Today, The Tribune spotlights some of this year’s high school graduates with photos from this year’s ceremonies. To view galleries from all the schools, go to southbendtribune.com. Graduate Janiyah...
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Pakistan indicates Iran deal is at hand
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said June 12 the text of a peace deal between the United States and Iran “has been reached,” and Iran’s foreign minister said a deal has “never been closer,” raising hopes for a genuine settlement to wind down...
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Injured Laporte deputy moved to Chicago for rehab
LAPORTE — A Laporte County Police officer continues to show progress in his early recovery from three gunshots, but his future could include a fight with paralysis. Jon Samuelson, a 33-year-old deputy who has been with the department for 12 years, has...
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How will Rum Village Park change?
SOUTH BEND — After more than a year of planning, community conversations and stakeholder meetings over the Rum Village Park master plan, the city and South Bend Venues Parks and Arts invites the community to an open house meeting to share the final...
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‘What happens inside this campus powers the future’
NEW CARLISLE — Amazon Cluster Operations Leader of Indiana Josh Sallabedra said Amazon calls all its employees “builders.” “When you come to Amazon, we’re trying to build something together,” Sallabedra said. These “builders” now include 58 local...
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‘AN INCREDIBLE PERSON’
MISHAWAKA — Esra Heisey said one thing he remembers about his father is his larger-than-life presence. “I think of his voice, and his laughter,” Heisey said, “and the amount of space that he took up in a room, and the way that he channeled that into...
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Forecast for D-day changed history
To go or not to go? h June 2026 marks 82 years since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s chief meteorologist, Group Capt. James Martin Stagg, made one of the most important weather forecasts of all time. Defying his colleagues, he advised the general to...
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Transpo responds to SEA 1 with changes to 15 routes
MISHAWAKA — Fifteen South Bend Public Transportation Corporation (Transpo) bus routes are expected to change as early as August. The changes were outlined for the public May 27 at an open house held at the downtown Mishawaka-penn-harris Public Library...
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Trump, Netanyahu clash over Lebanon, Iran talks
President Donald Trump lit into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an expletive-laden call on June 1, multiple news outlets reported, after Iran threatened to pull out of peace talks with the United States over strikes on Hezbollah in...
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Due diligence extended again
SOUTH BEND — The Madison Lifestyle District appeared on the Redevelopment Commission agenda for the third and possibly last time May 28 to extend its development agreement’s due diligence period by one month to June 28. In March 2024, city officials...
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Graduation days
Commencement season has begun for 2026’s graduates. Catholic high schools Saint Joseph High School of South Bend and Marian High School of Mishawaka held their ceremonies Sunday and Friday, respectively. To view galleries of photos from each ceremony,...
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City: Deterioration of old church makes repair futile
SOUTH BEND – After years of neighbors voicing concerns regarding the condition of the New Birth Christian Ministries church at 747 to 749 Harrison Avenue, the 1920s building is officially coming down this June. Originally built as a Lutheran church,...
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‘A TREMENDOUS YEAR’
SOUTH BEND — It’s been almost a year since private Christian school Trinity Academy South Bend moved into the Greenlawn campus on South Greenlawn Avenue, and Trinity School, Greenlawn’s former occupant, relocated to a new facility. The transition...
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Potential Iran deal puts Trump in a bind
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to end the war against Iran: He is under pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and get U.S. gasoline prices down but at the same time faces a potential backlash from Iran hawks...
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Property will soon be open to proposals on use
SOUTH BEND — More than 20 people addressed the St. Joseph County Council as the discussions about what to do with the historical Portage Manor property move forward with a 9-0 vote in favor of allowing the board of commissioners to seek...
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Final commencement
Graduation. A time of transition. You commence something new. The senior class of Purdue Polytechnic South Bend marked their achievement May 26 as the final graduates of the charter school, which closes now to merge with fellow charters South Bend’s...
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Taste: La Belle Vie brings a slice of France to South Bend
SOUTH BEND — La belle vie. The good life. When customers enter La Belle Vie Charcuterie Café, they’re met with sunlit seating, fresh floral arrangements and the warm smile of owner Monica Hoban or one of her staff members. It’s difficult to ignore...
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Democracy at risk
Democracy requires practice, according to the many researchers and scholars from across the world who descended on the University of Notre Dame for the third Kellogg Institute Keough School of Global Affairs Global Democracy Conference. But...
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Trump: Blockade stays until deal signed
President Donald Trump on May 24 said he has told his diplomatic representatives not to rush into a deal with Iran because “time is on our side,” less than a day after announcing that an agreement with Tehran had been largely negotiated. “The Blockade...
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Lessons from 2026 primary elections
Voter turnout is alterable and is affected by a variety of political conditions. In St. Joseph County, voter turnout is up compared to the last three primary elections, though overall, voter turnout is facing a decreasing trend. The Tribune analyzed...
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Pakistani official searches for deal on Iran
WASHINGTON – Iran’s foreign minister met Pakistan’s interior minister on May 22 to discuss proposals to end the U.s.-israeli war, Iranian media reported, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Iran’s uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait...
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Amazon opens state’s first ‘Think Big Space’ STEM lab
NEW CARLISLE — Amazon has unveiled its first “Think Big Space” in Indiana at New Prairie High School, part of the company’s nationwide initiative to open STEM education labs and encourage students to explore careers in STEM. The Think Big Space at New...
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MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, a day to honor those who died fighting in the Civil War. Ohio Rep. James A. Garfield, a former general and future U.S. president, made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery on the first Decoration...
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Acting Ensemble president likes to play villains
As the president of The Acting Ensemble — a local troupe of performing arts people — Melissa Gard is the force behind bringing top-notch plays and outstanding local talent to the group’s Mishawaka stage. She admits she has plenty of help from her...
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Dance, Dance, Dance
Adams High School, Mishawaka High School and Penn High School held their proms this past weekend, on Friday at the Palais Royale for Adams; Saturday at the Gillespie Center for Mishawaka; and Saturday at Century Center for Penn. To see galleries from...
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Qualex demolition clears the way for redevelopment
SOUTH BEND — After sitting vacant for decades, the Qualex Building on Louise Street adjacent to Mishawaka Avenue has been demolished into large piles of bricks and old pipes. Located in what is being branded as the “Market District” on the southeast...
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Festivals and fun in the forecast for South Bend
The Tribune’s Festival Guide offers you a variety of events, festivals and county fairs. Most are family-friendly, but watch for some 21+-only events. There is something for everyone to experience. A guide featuring summer outdoor concerts will be...
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Centurylong effort aims to keep nations White
Whiteness appears to be an official immigration credential in the eyes of the United States government. The Trump administration in late 2025 slashed the annual cap on refugee admissions to 7,500 for budget year 2026, down from the 125,000 cap set in...
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‘MOMENTOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT’
The Stanley Clark School Science Olympiad team is headed to the University of Southern California to compete in the National Science Olympiad Tournament for the first time in 13 years. The Science Olympians came in first out of 35 teams at the Indiana...
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Lasalle Park residents urged to lobby city over reparatory report
Lasalle Park resident Alice Pickens had one main lesson to share with her neighbors at a meeting held by the Lasalle Park Neighborhood Alliance and Black Lives Matter South Bend: “We need to stand up for ourselves.” Pickens comment comes after a report...
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‘He’s pastoral, but he’s courageous’
At 78 years old, St. Thérèse Little Flower Catholic Church parishioner Catherine Odell said she appreciates that Pope Leo XIV is appealing to younger people, joking that his papacy is the first time the pope has been younger than her. But that’s not...
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Report: City has ‘extensive history of discrimination’
SOUTH BEND — The city has “an extensive history of discrimination against the Black population,” according to a briefly-published report from the South Bend Reparatory Justice Commission. According to that report, the systematic denial of equal access...
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Tarner accuses airport of unfair bidding process
Surrounded by his employees and family members, President of the South Bend Chocolate Company Mark Tarner appeared to get emotional speaking about the pride he has in his company and the journey it’s endured over 35 years in business. He took many...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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Trump says Iran ceasefire holds
President Donald Trump is brushing away concerns that the U.s.-iran ceasefire agreement is finished after the two sides launched strikes on each other that he called a “trifle.” “They trifled with us today. We blew them away. I call that a trifle,”...
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Races show power of Trump’s support
President Donald Trump tested the strength of his endorsement in eight Indiana Senate races, and he basically aced it. The candidates he endorsed in his revenge plot to oust Republican incumbents who voted against mid-decade redistricting nearly all...
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O’brien beats Schaetzle in GOP primary
Jamie O’brien beat incumbent St. Joseph County Republican “not in good standing” Dan Schaetzle in the Republican primary for St. Joseph County Council District C on Tuesday, May 5. “Obviously, in any election, someone comes out on top and someone...
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‘If there’s a chance to vote, you have to take it’
SOUTH BEND — Residents who showed up to vote for Tuesday’s primaries said a low voter turnout won’t fly anymore. In 2024’s primary, only 12% of St. Joseph County’s registered voters showed up to cast their primary ballots, according to turnout...
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RILEY STEPS UP
Prom season has kicked into high gear, with South Bend Riley high school holding its dance last Friday. The Tribune will be at many local proms and will share galleries of photos online. Please share your prom photos with us, too. Check out...
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INVESTING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER
MISHAWAKA — Gurley Leep Automotive Family is coming up on its 50th anniversary on Oct. 7, 2027, and how do its owners plan to celebrate it? By finishing a 70-acre auto campus that will feature 11 automotive brands, a dog park, public car wash, a...
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Prediction markets see explosive rise
Though prediction markets have been legal in the United States for less than 18 months, they can’t stop making news and making money. On prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket, users can stake real money on just about anything, from the...
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Trump: Iran blockade could last months
President Donald Trump indicated he’s prepared to keep his current strategy of blockading Iranian ports for months in order to inflict economic pain on the Islamic republic as long as he feels is necessary. “At this moment, there will never be a deal...
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ARTEMIS AWE
The 100-plus people congregated in the University of Notre Dame auditorium sat transfixed by the moon, hearing with awe the story of its most recent visitors and the people who helped get them there. h The air in the auditorium was almost reverential,...
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A time to dance
Prom season kicked off last week with South Bend Washington and Mishawaka Marian high schools holding their events. The Tribune will be at many local proms and will share galleries of photos online. Please share your prom photos with us, too. Find out...
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Riverwalk to get upgrades
SOUTH BEND — Residents biking along the riverwalk near Seitz Park may have noticed the sharp, almost dangerous, turns riders are forced to take in order to navigate the path. What they may not have noticed is that part of the riverwalk has been slowly...
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Greenway to connect community and history
SOUTH BEND — Introduced in February 2025, the downtown South Bend 2045 plan highlights a push for bike paths, trails and overall adding features that contribute to the walkability of downtown. However, organizations such as the South Bend Greenway...
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‘There’s no place that I’d rather be’
Bottom: “Are their jerseys red or pink?” asks Marian softball players as they arrive at Northfield Athletic Complex with Rodriguez, left, before a game against Saint Joseph High School. Saint Joseph’s team was wearing pink warmup shirts welcoming...
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Consumer sentiment slumps to record low
WASHINGTON – U.S. consumer sentiment fell to a record low in April as households shrugged off a ceasefire in the war with Iran, remaining focused on the inflation fallout from the conflict. The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers said its...
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Changes come to Chet Waggoner Little League
SOUTH BEND — Last year, the Chet Waggoner Little League 10U All-stars won the 2025 Indiana State championship for the first time in 33 years. But as Opening Day — and the parade that accompanies it — approaches Saturday, April 25, the...
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Exploding batteries complicate fire
The Mishawaka Fire Department responded to a call around 6 p.m. after an employee of AAA Mattress and Furniture store at 926 E. Mckinley Ave. noticed the building was on fire. Mishawaka Fire Battalion Chief Josh Courtney confirmed there were no...
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Kitten season is here
MISHAWAKA — Warming spring weather has brought stray cats out to … mingle. Enter, kitten season. As the Humane Society of St. Joseph County prepares for the seasonal influx of newborn kittens, it’s calling on the community to help provide temporary,...
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JIM’S SMOKIN’ CAFÉ
NILES — Jim Morris believes Niles may possibly be the only place individuals could enjoy a comedy club, 100-year-old candy store, live music venue and five different restaurants all on one street. Morris’ Jim’s Smokin’ Café is one of the restaurants...
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More affordable housing planned for South Bend
SOUTH BEND – Across the street from the former Ward Bakery Building, now known as Portage Place, a local real estate developer just received the green light from the city’s redevelopment commission to repurpose vacant grass lots for affordable...
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Kennedy Park final budget less than expected
Kennedy Park is one step closer to getting a full makeover — and one that will cost less than originally proposed — now that the city’s Board of Public Works approved the project’s entire $15 million budget at its April 14 meeting. The park is set to...
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Iranians reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” to all commercial vessels, the country’s foreign minister said, meeting a central demand of the United States as the two countries teased another round of peace talks and the clock wound down on a...
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State Theater envisioned as community art space
SOUTH BEND — The historic State Theatre will have to wait four more months until it sees any renovations after the Redevelopment Commission approved a delay on accepting proposals to utilize the space until July. After releasing a request for...
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XLR8 advances to world robotics championship event ‘We finally made it’
OSCEOLA – An aptly-named local teen robotics team is zooming forward toward the world championship. First it won the state championship on March 14, and now, it’s trying to raise the money to head to the FIRST World Championship from April 29 to May 2...
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Trash into treasure
SOUTH BEND — Yard waste season in South Bend is under way, but there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes to provide untreated compost and mulch. The Tribune took a tour of the Organic Resources facility, 4340 Trade Drive, to learn more about yard...
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Opposing team hot dogs Cubs fans can try this season
SOUTH BEND — South Bend Cubs fans aren’t strangers to the classic foods offered at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium every year. Attendees munch on pork nachos, tenderloin sandwiches and Dippin’ Dots ice cream from first inning to the top of the...
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U.S. to blockade strait, Trump says
A day after failed peace negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy will start blockading the Strait of Hormuz. In back-to-back social media posts on April 12, Trump said the United States...
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SPIN IT BACK
SOUTH BEND — Once a year, as working Americans snooze in bed, vinyl enthusiasts wake before sunrise on the third Saturday of April. Morning twilight illuminates figurelike shadows and phone screens light up patiently-waiting faces as people line up in...
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The high cost of U.S. health care
In announcing its “Great Healthcare Plan” in January, the Trump administration became the latest in a long history of efforts by the U.S. government to rein in the soaring cost of health care. h As a physician and professor studying the intersection of...
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Area Holocaust survivor subject of ‘Magic Lantern’
In 1994, Marijke Brown received a letter that touched off a 30-year journey into a past she had never known about — how the Dutch Resistance had saved her from the Holocaust during World War II. It also led to “The Magic Lantern,” a documentary film...
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KENNEDY PARK REVAMP
Located on Olive and Westmoor streets, Kennedy Park is getting major improvements, including a new pool, playground and athletic courts following the closure of the park’s current playground after being deemed outdated. Public Works Director of...
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Beau Bayh speaks at Democrats’ Dyngus Day
SOUTH BEND — St. Joseph County Democratic candidates and residents gathered at M.R. Falcons on Monday, April 6, to celebrate South Bend’s annual Dyngus Day. Secretary of State Democratic candidate Beau Bayh’s message to voters had a few themes:...
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Burri King owners traded retirement for a new business
SOUTH BEND — Alejandra and Jose Botello dedicated most of their lives to the University of Notre Dame. For 35 years, Alejandra woke up at 3 a.m. to get to her job as a housekeeper on university grounds at 4 a.m. When Jose retired, it opened up a whole...
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TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
MISHAWAKA — It was a normal Thursday morning for Mishawaka High School English teacher Christie Buchmann, until she and her students heard a song playing through the school hallways — a song with Buchmann’s name in it. “My students heard all that...
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Real life hits home for former Marian players
For the third time in five days, and twice only hours apart, your thoughts rolled back to that magical basketball night at Marian High School. h That Friday night in February 2025 with a sellout crowd in the bleachers, parking in the cramped lots at a...
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Trump funding cuts axed nutrition program
If the government had found a way to save $10 for every dollar it spent helping low-income people get healthier, wouldn’t it make sense for it to keep doing that? Well, that’s exactly what the U.S. government did when it piloted the SNAPED program in...
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